The smile that haunted him

While everything seemed to settle into an uneasy calm on the **Sterling** cruise, the atmosphere on the other cruise was anything but peaceful. The man who had swum over and infiltrated the Sterling ship returned to his own vessel, dripping with seawater and seething with rage. His every movement was sharp and hurried, a stark contrast to the earlier composed demeanor he had displayed.

As he climbed aboard and took off his swimming gear, his men could immediately sense the fury radiating from him. One of them, braver than the rest, dared to step forward and ask, "Did the plan go well, sir?"

The question was like a spark to dry tinder. The man's eyes flared with anger as he flung his wet gear across the deck, sending it skidding across the polished wood. His jaw clenched, and his breathing became ragged as he tried to contain the storm brewing within him.

"How can she not remember?" he growled, his voice rising with each word. "How can she not remember me?"